UNC Chapel Hill vs. BC

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC with Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNC Chapel Hill or BC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than BC ($10,154 vs. $11,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 7% lower than at Bridgewater College ($13,804 vs. $14,850).
• Bridgewater College is 78.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $7,096 more per year; $16,090.00 vs. $8,994.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 156.1% higher at UNC Chapel Hill than at Bridgewater College (about $25,113 more per year; $41,203.00 vs. $16,090.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bridgewater College than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (100% vs. 38%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 165.5% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($47,288 vs. $17,814).

UNC Chapel Hill vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNC Chapel Hill or BC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between BC and UNC Chapel Hill.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 270 points higher than at BC (1190).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027; BC May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at BC (3.61).
• BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 10.1% at BC.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNC Chapel Hill and BC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than Bridgewater College's (59%).
• Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $23,000 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $10,521 lower median loan debt than BC graduates ($16,479 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $109 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BC graduates ($170 vs. $279).
• More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BC students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 77%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.